T cell activation correlates with an increased proportion of antigen among the materials acquired from target cells

We have investigated the density of peptides required to elicit different biological responses in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), including trogocytosis (i.e., the phenomenon whereby the lymphocytes actively capture fragments of plasma membrane from those cells with which they establish an immune synapse). We have used two separate mouse models of CTL recognising defined peptides presented by MHC class I molecules. In both systems, triggering of cytotoxicity and capture of membrane components reached saturation with low densities of ligand. On the other hand, down-modulation of cell-surface levels of TCR, induction of IFN-gamma production and detection of peptide captured required much higher ligand densities. Interestingly, fratricide (i.e., killing between CTL sharing the same specificity), a mechanism proposed to account for CTL exhaustion, was detected only at antigen concentrations still well above that second threshold leading to full blown activation. Taken together, our results show that the different thresholds that govern the elicitation of different CTL functions correlate with different proportions of antigen among the target cell components being captured via trogocytosis.     

Peptides derived from IgE heavy chain constant region induce profound IgE isotype-specific tolerance

(BALB/c × SJL)F1 mice, perinatally injected with peptide-N-glyconase F-treated, deglycosylated IgE heavy chain or recombinant IgE heavy chain (CH?2-CH?4), were profoundly inhibited in antigen-specific IgE production. There exist minimally two tolerogenic IgE peptides, residing in the CH?2 and CH?4 domains. Peptide I, generated by V8 protease, comprises 39 amino acids within CH?2, beginning at amino acid 103. Peptide E begins at amino acid 312 of the CH?4 domain and extends through the CH?4 domain. The total lack of antigen-specific IgE responses in IgE peptide-treated mice was not due to overproduction of interferon-γ, nor lack of interleukin (IL)-4, as predicted by the Th2/IL-4 paradigm for IgE production. IgE-tolerant mice exhibited comparable levels of circulating anti-IgE antibodies to those of PBS-treated control mice. IgG obtained from sera of both sources failed to inhibit IgE responses in vitro. Moreover, IgE responses of spleen cells from IgE peptides-treated mice were restored by CD4⁺ T cells from PBS-treated control mice. We hypothesize that regulation of antigen-specific IgE responses is mediated by CD4⁺ T cells which normally recognize IgE peptides on IgE precursor B cells, and can be rendered tolerant by perinatal IgE peptide treatment.     

Adult Still's disease reflects a Th2 rather than a Th1 cytokine profile

Adult Still's disease (ASD) is a chronic multisystemic disease. Extraordinarily high serum levels of IL-18 in ASD patients have been described, whereas the mechanism remains to be clarified. This study aimed to evaluate proinflammatory cytokines and to consider their pathological roles. In patients with rheumatic diseases (n = 151), blood samples were taken at the active phase and the serum levels of IL-18 and other proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. The extra-high levels of IL-18 were confirmed selectively in ASD patients (n = 10). In the active phase of ASD patients, the levels of IL-6 were elevated accordingly, but IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were undetectable. As to Th1-Th2 cytokines, the levels of IL-4 and IL-13, but not INF-gamma, IL-12, or IL-2, were elevated in all ASD patients examined. Moreover, the serum levels of IL-18 showed a good correlation with those of IL-4, suggesting that ASD reflects a Th2 rather than a Th1 cytokine profile.     

Lack of intermediate-affinity interleukin-2 receptor in mice leads to dependence on interleukin-2 receptor α, β and γ chain expression for T cell growth

An interleukin (IL)-4 dependant mouse T cell clone 8.2 derived from an IL-2-dependent T cell line was characterized. As measured by flow cytometric analysis and Northern blotting, it expresses IL-2 receptor β (IL-2Rβ) and γ (IL-2Rγ) chains, but has lost expression of IL-2 receptor α chain (IL-2Rα). To investigate the properties of the mouse IL-2Rβγ complex and the role of IL-2Rα gene expression, this clone was further studied. T cell clone 8.2 has lost the capacity to bind ¹²⁵I-labeled human IL-2 under experimental conditions able to detect intermediate-affinity IL-2R in human cells. Mouse IL-2 is unable to block the binding of mAb TMβ1 to 8.2 cells. Under the same experimental conditions, mouse IL-2 blocks the binding of TMβ1 to C30-1 cells expressing the IL-2αβγ complex. Since TMβ1 recognizes an epitope related to the IL-2 binding site of IL-2Rβ, these results can be taken as a demonstration that mouse IL-2Rβγ does not bind mouse IL-2. Furthermore, T cell clone 8.2 does not proliferate in response to recombinant mouse or human IL-2. On the other hand, T cell transfectant lines expressing heterospecific receptors made of the human IL-2Rβ and mouse IL-2Rγ chains bind ¹²⁵I-labeled human IL-2 and proliferate in response to IL-2. This establishes the difference between mouse and human IL-2Rβ chains. Transfection of T cell clone 8.2 with human IL-2Rα genes restores their capacity to proliferate in response to IL-2. In addition, all transfectants grown in IL-2 express the endogeneous mouse IL-2Rα chain. When grown in IL-4, the endogeneous mouse IL-2Rα gene remains silent in all these transfectants. These results show that, contrary to the human, the mouse does not express an intermediate-affinity IL-2R. Expression of the IL-2Rα gene is therefore required for the formation of the functional IL-2R in mice.     

类风湿性关节炎患者关节滑膜液浸润的T细胞表达特性

目的 :为研究类风湿性关节炎 (RA)患者关节滑膜液浸润的淋巴细胞介导自身免疫病的特性 ,分析了 2 2例RA患者滑膜液中淋巴细胞的免疫表型、对II型胶原的反应频率及IL 10、IL 12的分泌格局。方法 :用流式细胞术分别测定滑膜液和外周血淋巴细胞表型 ,并采用国际标准半有限稀释法分析了关节滑膜液中浸润的淋巴细胞对II型胶原 (CII)的反应频率 ,同时用ELISA方法检测了滑膜液与外周血中IL 10与IL 12含量。结果 :滑膜液中的T淋巴细胞的表型分别为CD4 (39 6 %±10 5 % )和CD8细胞 (36 4 %± 16 4 % ) ,CD4 CD8细胞比值显著低于外周血 ,且同时表达CD16和CD5 6的活化NK细胞占15 5 %± 11 1%。T细胞受体谱取用表明仍以αβTCR为主 (6 9 6 %± 15 7% )。有意义的是 :滑膜液中的T细胞对CII的反应频率为 15 2× 10 - 6 ,远远高于外周血 (4 0× 10 - 6 )。IL 12含量为 (4 19 9± 89 2 )pg ml,IL 10含量为 (187 7± 34 5 )pg ml,与外周血中这 2种细胞因子的含量〔分别为IL 12 :(6 5 32± 34 2 )pg ml和IL 10 :(85± 12 7)pg ml〕比较 ,具有显著的统计学差异。结论 :上述实验结果表明这种具有表达特性的浸润T细胞介导了RA患者关节滑膜组织的免疫损伤。     

不同来源乙肝表面抗原的细胞免疫学对比研究

目的　研究不同来源乙肝表面抗原诱导CD8 抗原特异性的细胞毒T淋巴细胞反应(CTL)的差异及T细胞产生细胞因子的能力 ,从而对各种来源乙型肝炎表面抗原 (HBsAg)的免疫原性有更充分的评价。方法　不同来源HBsAg分别免疫BALB c小鼠 ,于免疫后不同时间制备脾脏单个核细胞 (MNC) ,再以相应的HBsAg体外刺激 ,酶联免疫方法 (ELISA)测定细胞因子分泌水平 ;以Na2 5 1CrO4标记靶细胞 ,测定CTL反应活性 ;应用流式细胞仪分析T细胞亚群。结果　HM HBsAg免疫小鼠 10d后的脾细胞产生IFN γ水平最高 ,而在免疫后 2 0d和 2 5d ,IL 2的水平显著高于其它各组 ,CD3 分子脾淋巴细胞显著高于其它各实验组 (P <0 .0 5) ;plasma HBsAg免疫小鼠的脾淋巴细胞产生IFN γ和IL 2水平较低 ,但在免疫 2 5d对P815 HBs的杀伤性最强 ;HM HBsAg和SSC HBsAg免疫后CD4 CD8- 脾淋巴细胞比例显著增高 (P <0 .0 5) ;CD4- CD8 细胞所占百分比各组间及与空白对照组间差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5)。结论　不同来源HBsAg诱导的细胞免疫反应类型和程度不同     

人白细胞介素18(hIL-18)的纯化及生物学活性的鉴定

目的：在大肠杆菌中高效表达重组人IL-18(rhIL-18)蛋白，制备具有高纯度、高活性的rhIL-18。方法：用IFTG诱导重组蛋白表达载体pKK223-3／hIL-18进行蛋白表达；菌体经超声破碎分离包含体，并对包含体进行洗涤、变性和复性处理，用DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B阴离子交换柱纯化复性的rhIL-18；以人外周血单核淋巴细胞，通过T细胞增殖实验、^125I-UdR标记的细胞毒实验、ELISA方法检测细胞因子的产生量等方法，测定rhIL-18的生物学活性。结果：在大肠杆菌中成功地诱导、表达了rhIL-18，SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳分离显示在分子量大约18．3kD处有一诱导蛋白带，Western blot证明表达产物与抗IL-18单克隆抗体有特异性免疫反应；表达产物经纯化后纯度达94％；表达的rhIL-18蛋白具有促进T细胞增殖、增强NK细胞细胞毒作用及诱导外周血单核淋巴细胞合成IFN-γ的能力，基本上具有天然IL-18相同的生物学活性。结论：为rhIL-18的获得及为进一步研究其生物学功能提供了一定的条件，并为将rhIL-18用于肿瘤的免疫生物治疗奠定了基础。     

Effects of green tea polyphenols on murine transplant-reactive T cell immunity

Green tea polyphenols (GrTP), the active ingredient of green tea, may have immunosuppressive properties, but whether and how GrTP affect transplant-reactive T cells is unknown. To address this, we tested the effects of GrTP on in vitro and in vivo transplant-reactive T cell immunity. GrTP inhibited IFNgamma secretion by cultured monoclonal T cells and by alloreactive T cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions. Oral GrTP significantly prolonged minor antigen-disparate skin graft survival and decreased the frequency of donor-reactive interferon gamma-producing T cells in recipient secondary lymphoid organs compared to controls. In contrast to other hypothesized actions, oral GrTP did not alter dendritic cell trafficking to lymph nodes or affect metalloproteinase activity in the graft. This is the first report of an immunosuppressive effect of GrTP on transplant-reactive T cell immunity. The results suggest that oral intake of green tea could act as an adjunctive therapy for prevention of transplant rejection in humans.     

卡介苗多糖核酸对过敏性支气管哮喘外周血单个核细胞TH1/TH2反应的作用

目的观察卡介苗多糖核酸(BCG-PSN)对支气管哮喘患者外周血淋巴细胞TH1/TH2反应的作用,并与结核菌素纯蛋白衍生物(TB-PPD)进行比较. 方法缓解期过敏性支气管哮喘患者16例,对照组健康成人13例,分离外周血单个核细胞(PBMC),分别加入不同浓度的BCG-PSN(1、10、100、1000 μg/ml)、TB-PPD(10 μg/ml)、尘螨抗原(DerP, 10 μg/ml)体外培养4 d,不加刺激剂者为阴性对照.收集培养上清,ELISA检测IFN-γ、IL-5浓度的变化. 结果 PSN(1～100 μg/ml)刺激正常人PBMC分泌IFN-γ水平均高于哮喘患者(P＜0.05).BCG-PSN(10 μg/ml)可以刺激哮喘患者PBMC分泌IFN-γ(358.7 pg/ml,范围0～2433.0 pg/ml),但显著低于同等浓度的TB-PPD刺激作用(13 036 pg/ml,范围600.5～35 100.0 pg/ml,P＜0.01).PSN刺激PBMC分泌IFN-γ呈浓度依赖性,当浓度达到100 μg/ml时,与低浓度相比刺激作用显著增强(P＜0.01),与TB-PPD的刺激作用类似.DerP刺激哮喘患者PBMC分泌IL-5水平显著高于正常人(P＜0.05).BCG-PSN刺激PBMC分泌IL-5的作用较弱,显著低于TB-PPD和DerP的刺激作用. 结论 BCG-PSN具有一定的TH1刺激作用,但低于TB-PPD的刺激作用,有待对BCG-PSN组分进一步优化以增强疗效.     

Cytokine polymorphism and its possible impact on cancer

Human cancer is an unpredictable disease as is its response to therapy. The intrinsic genetic heterogeneity and instability of cancer cells could in part explain such behavior. However, it is possible that, individual variation in the genetic make-up of humans may affect the relationship between host and cancer cells and, therefore, be, at least in part responsible for this extraordinary variation. Human gene polymorphism has been shown indeed to play a role in immune responses; among the immune-related genes, cytokines are often polymorphic. Some polymorphisms of cytokine and cytokine receptor may have direct functional significance by altering directly and indirectly the level of gene expression and/or its function; other may only demarcate a genetic linkage to a particular haplotype associated with a given clinical condition. The majority of polymorphisms found in cytokines or their receptors are located in the promoter, intronic and 3′ untranslated regions. These sequence variations can still affect gene expression and function. In this review will we summarize the current knowledge about the role of cytokine polymorphism in disease and more specifically in cancer.